Ruth Wolever, PhD

Contributing Writer

Ruth Quillian Wolever, Ph.D., is a clinical health psychologist and the research director of Duke Integrative Medicine. She specializes in behavior change, treatment of stress-related difficulties, and mind-body health. Both her research and her clinical practice focus on strengthening the connection between mind and body and the application of integrative medicine techniques to effect lifestyle change — particularly in cardiovascular and neuroendocrine disease. Dr. Wolever also consults with the Fuqua School of Business and Duke Corporate Education programs, helping executives identify strategies to better manage their challenging environments.

Dr. Wolever conducts research on the integration of mind, body, and spirit treatments into mainstream medicine. She has specifically explored such applications to improve sleep, eating behaviors, weight management, diabetes control, and cardiovascular risk factors, along with other health conditions. Much of this work centers on applying mindfulness to behavior in order to develop intrinsic skills and motivation; simultaneously, it utilizes health coaching to strengthen accountability in creating significant lifestyle change. Dr. Wolever's research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institute of Mental Health, Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the Office of Women's Health), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and by GlaxoSmithKline.

Dr. Wolever has been working in the field of health psychology since 1989 and at the Duke University School of Medicine since 1994. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Health Psychology from the University of Miami in 1994, and completed her clinical internship at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill the same year. She is licensed as a clinical psychologist and certified as a health services provider in the state of North Carolina. She is also a PAIRS Facilitator (Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills, PAIRS Foundation, Falls Church, Virginia), a LifeSkills trainer (Williams LifeSkills Inc., Durham, North Carolina), and has credentials in medical hypnotherapy (Institute for Health Psychology & American Society for Clinical Hypnosis).

Dr. Wolever was previously the clinic director of Duke Integrative Medicine, and the health psychology director of the Duke University Executive Health Program, Duke Diet and Fitness Center, and Duke Health and Fitness Center. Prior to entering the field of health psychology, Dr. Wolever earned her B.A. in Spanish at the University of Virginia, taught in the Dade County Public High Schools, and directed a youth program in South Florida. She and her husband, Mark, are active in educating the public on Rett Syndrome. Her deepest delight is her daughter, Emma.